Majestic Downfall - The Dance of the Dead

Blistering.com: Are you aware of your own limitations? If so, how do you work around them?

Córdova: The only way to deal with my limitations is with hard work and discipline as I mentioned before. Some of my limitations come when I repeat ideas that I have used in the past. I work very hard on evading this by incorporating all the time new influences and feelings to the music. It is harder being one member in this department, but at the same time better, it all comes from a big masterplan and not a chunk of ideas. Another of my limitations is playing live, I don´t have the time at the moment to work with musicians and take this to the stage. Hopefully I will do it in the near future.

Blistering.com: How does your work with Majestic Downfall compare to what you do with Zombiefication?

Córdova: You tell me ha-ha. It is completely different. Majestic Downfall is doom/dark metal heavily influenced by Celestial Season, (old) Katatonia, (old) Anathema, Phlebotomized, (Old) The Gathering, etc, and Zombiefication is pure death metal raised on Aztec bloodshed. Majestic Downfall´s production is clear and polished and Zombiefication is extremely raw and brutal. I think that gives our readers a very good idea of the main differences. Oh, and I could also mention that in Zombiefication, I am in charge of all the music, while in Majestic Downfall I do everything, so I could say MD is more personal and the Zombie more a work between me and Mr. Hitch.

Blistering.com: There's an obvious jump in sound-quality from Temple of Guilt to The Blood Dance. How much of this is a credit to your own doing?

Córdova:Temple Of Guilt was recorded, mixed and mastered at Inzonic Music Lab and The Blood Dance was a bit different. Drums, vocals and final mixing/mastering were done at Revolution Studios while guitars and bass were done at Inzonic Music Lab. This mixture of studios proved to be very effective for the band. On whether this is my credit or no, I can only say that all the people involved worked extremely great and the result was excellent.

Blistering.com: Describe some of your influences, for it's clear that you're cut from the same cloth as early Katatonia, Morgion, etc.

Córdova: Indeed! Those are two bands I love, especially Katatonia and their first two releases. As I mentioned before the first releases of bands like Anathema, My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, Celestial Season, Saturnus and many have surely paid their dues in my music. In the new albums you can also hear some Forgotten Tomb and Shining influences going on. Still I must say, that I think the Majestic Downfall sound is one of a kind.

Blistering.com: As for The Blood Dance, describe the state of mind you were in while recording. Some of the songs like “From Black to Dead” and “Majestic Embrace” are truly depressive sounding.

Córdova: The only true way for me to express my feelings is through music, it has become natural for me to do it this way. Majestic Downfall let´s me get all my frustration out and you can really hear the things that torment me through the music I create. You will never hear a happy song from the band. Letting my broken feelings and frustrations through music keeps me sane and is a true catharsis to live the everyday life.

Blistering.com: What type of lyrical themes run through the album?

Córdova: I mainly focus on personal themes, that I don´t really like talking about and human disgust. We humans have become so selfish that it truly is a pity to see where we are heading, and the worst part is that we are not even doing anything about it. We are the worst animal of all. If you ask me, a very vast theme to talk about.

Blistering.com: How much of an influence do your surroundings play when writing?

Córdova: Surroundings are the most important influence in my music. I just let my compositions take me where my daily life guides me too. Each Majestic Downfall album will be picture of the things I was living when writing that record.

Blistering.com: Are you at all involved with the Mexican metal scene?

Córdova: I like being involved in the Mexican metal scene, which if I must say hopefully will be bigger as it was in the 90´s when we ruled in the underground. For this to happen bands, labels and promoters, need to work harder, way harder.

Blistering.com: Finally, what’s on the agenda for 2012?

Córdova: Right now I am finishing recording the third Majestic Downfall full CD which right now has no title. This album shall be released sometime in the year, expect some new influences, but at the same time that Majestic Downfall experience. Zombiefication will release its new EP, Reaper´s Consecration, in CD format by Pulverised Records and the LP by Chaos Records in no more than 2 months. At the same time, I shall be entering the studio with Zombiefication to record the new album. All music is written and just being polished as we speak. As you can see, the metal keeps flowing.